By: Thomas Lodico
Lincoln Chafee, who just this Wednesday became the fourth presidential contender for the Democratic party nomination, started as Mayor of Warwick, then served as a Republican senator only to end up being an Independent governor, then becoming a democrat. That is a lot of change for just one man. Yet Chafee is a different candidate, separating himself from Hillary Clinton. Chafee insists he is a better candidate than Clinton based on a complexity of issues dealing with foreign policy.
On foreign policy, Chafee has called out Clinton on her previous support for the Iraq War. Chafee, who was the sole Republican vote against the invasion in Iraq, stated that Clinton’s vote for approving the Iraq War should disqualify her from becoming president. The newly-announced candidate does not only separate himself from Clinton there but also on other issues. On Russia and the Ukraine, Chaffe believes we should restore our relationship with Russia and use their resources to fight ISIS in the Middle East. In addition, Chafee also sees other issues Clinton has in running for president.
He has pointed out that in a recent CNN poll Clinton is ranked as a candidate that is not to be trusted, proving in his opinion that motre and more Americans are finding themselves distrusting Clinton. This can be seen from a barrage of attacks from Republican contenders by bringing up her State Department email scandal and her connection to her husband’s organization, The Clinton Global Initiative. Chafee brings up good points that many Democrats as well as other Americans want to know. Clinton does have a good amount of explaining to do on the two issues involving the email coverup and the Clintons’ organization. Chafee’s questioning of these issues could cause Clinton some headaches leading up to the primaries and eventually the convention. There is one thing beneficial about Chafee asking these questions about Clinton, the public gets to learn more about Clinton before 2016.